Recyclers Receive Extended “Clunkers” Time Frame

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration has issued a new ruling that allows automotive recyclers an additional 90 days (for a total of 270 days) to crush or shred vehicles traded in under the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save program.

According to the Automotive Recyclers Association, Manassas, Va., “The [new] rule amends regulations implementing the CARS program published on July 29, 2009.”

Says ARA Executive Vice President Michael E. Wilson, “The additional processing time allows the Cash for Clunkers program stimulus effects to continue. By providing the consumer increased access to economical ‘green’ recycled automotive parts harvested from vehicles that were traded in under the program, consumers will benefit along with the businesses that sell those parts.”

Language in the new version of the NHTSA rule reflects that same viewpoint. “The additional time will allow the public to benefit from the availability of lower cost used vehicle parts from vehicles traded in under the CARS program and will provide disposal facilities with an opportunity to derive more revenue from those vehicles prior to crushing or shredding,” states the ruling.

Adds Wilson, “We are appreciative of the agency’s understanding and acknowledgement of the many consumer benefits that the professional automotive recycling industry provides.”

The ARA says that it, along with many ARA members, offered the agency support for the extension. “NHTSA’s actions are a direct result of these concerted efforts seeking to alleviate the challenges that were created by the extension of the original program to the consumer without addressing the back-end vehicle processing time allowances,” says the group. “By extending the consumer program, three times as many cars were traded in than were expected, almost 700,000 in all, but the disposal period remained the same. This ruling now offers automotive recyclers more time to process the cars, which in turn keeps more recycled parts available to the consumer, as well.”

More information about the ARA can be found at www.a-r-a.org.